Who Do You Think Is In Charge?
Good Morning Friends,
Today is Christ the King Sunday, the last day in the liturgical year and we give a nod to the end of times in scripture readings but also the start of Advent. It is both a bit sad and hopeful time as is the nature of love…as is the nature of beginnings and endings. And though I was born on Thanksgiving Day my birthday falls this year on Christ the King Sunday so I will remember today in a different way that I cannot fully explain. Regardless, bear with me on this devotional journey from the disconnected to the very relationship that will bring us to green pastures. Interestingly Christ the King Sunday it is one of the newest days in the liturgical calendar, less than a century old, so one must wonder why now as opposed to thousands of years ago. And maybe it is because our view of just how big the universe is, has grown beyond geographical lines. For today, even as our scripture selection is all over the place, (and my writing) so too we are celebrating the mystery of the King of the Universe beyond time and space. And even before we contemplate the connections between today’s scriptures we know that the world has had good and bad kings…good and bad shepherds… and we are unsure of just what kind of kingdom it is going to be that we are celebrating returning to. But a choice will be made for us if we do not choose to receive Christ’s love more than the justice of the law and the judgement of immortality. That is why I for one choose a King who started out as a shepherd and has a flock that has been scattered around the world by the politics of the world but regardless is ultimately the provider of what we need. Who Do You Think Is In Charge?
Scripture: I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, and for this reason I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers. I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power. God put this power to work in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the age to come. And he has put all things under his feet and has made him the head over all things for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
Ephesians 1:15-23 (NRSV)
But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have died. For since death came through a human being, the resurrection of the dead has also come through a human being; for as all die in Adam, so all will be made alive in Christ. But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. Then comes the end, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father, after he has destroyed every ruler and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to the one who put all things in subjection under him, so that God may be all in all.
1 Corinthians 15:20-26, 28 (NRSV)
“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left. Then the king will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?’ And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.’ Then he will say to those at his left hand, ‘You that are accursed, depart from me into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not give me clothing, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ Then they also will answer, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not take care of you?’ Then he will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
Matthew 25:31-46 (NRSV)
Message: The scattering of the people of Israel by the Assyrians and the Babylonians and others is part of the story line in the Bible that ends with a coming home. This is the back drop for our message and the question before us about who is in charge while we are in exile. What today’s scripture presents is a reality of Christ on a throne in heaven and the relationship of the Trinity, sharing and submitting and ruling. And we must wonder if evil will challenge the rule for control of earth even though Jesus has defeated even death. Thankfully in this situation Jesus shows real leadership and fills our hearts and minds with the joy of the Gospel. As the head of the church Jesus is filling us with what we need including most importantly God’s mercy, for Jesus knows what it means to be human. And if you think for one moment that you are in control, think again. The division of the sheep and goats comes before the judging. The Shepherd King of love that rules not just our hearts and minds but all the universe bestows the answer to the problem of sin through a relationship with the Father and the Holy Spirit. And like it or not it is a better solution than we could have ever come up with. Thankfully the shepherd takes sides and fights for the weak, outcast, damaged, diseased, abandoned, marginalized people for these are the saints Christ the King, Shepherd of the Saints has chosen to tend. We are to intuitively understand that the devil has not been exorcised from our world but God is still in control creating, sustaining and redeeming. Perhaps we need to learn from Jesus, God in the flesh, what it means to be in control.
Pray we believe that Christ not only made the universe but continues to manage it. Pray we believe that Christ’s rule is bringing us into greater unity. Pray we no longer be prey to evil. Pray the thankful eyes of our hearts are enlightened. Pray we have what we need so that we will be secure in the comfort of the resurrection and return of the King. Pray we celebrate the hope of coming home. Pray we stay connected to Christ the head and source of the power of the church. Pray we want to be more like Jesus. Pray we realize that the king of the universe is not a legalist but first a shepherd that provides what we need and most importantly the mercy of the only righteousness that will make a difference. Pray Jesus loves us and we love him back. Pray our prayers honor God. Pray we embrace a theology that is the birthright of every Christian.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 